Measuring is not just to get the sofa inside, but also to make sure it is the correct fit for the room. Whether you are placing it against a wall or sitting it in an open space, it needs to fit that space. You also want it to be the same scale as your other furniture and the room as a whole.

Each fabric is going to feel different, and it will add in a very different way to the overall feel of a sofa. You may like the look of heavily textured fabrics, but do you like the feel of them? Does a surface feel too slick? Do you like the sound leather makes when you shift your weight on it? Sit on different fabrics long enough till you find one that is right for you. This is especially important if it is going to be "the sofa," that special one that is used all the time.

When you have a sofa that dates back over a century, and you have invested good money in it, reupholstering it makes sense. This is not something that can be replaced by a brand new sofa. In this case, by reupholstering, you are actually restoring an antique. However, if this is an investment, this should not be attempted on your own. Get a qualified professional to do it, and it is going to be costly.